Lee's basketball background helps him stand out on-field

Raiders players celebrate a try by Edrick Lee (L) during the round six NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium on April 13, 2013 in Canberra, Australia.Stefan Postles / Getty Images

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Lee's basketball background helps him stand out on-field

by jspasaro

Josh Spasaro
Sports Journalist

I spent four years in country newspapers before taking on a dream role of covering national and international sports news across the entire APN network, in early 2012.
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RAIDERS winger Edrick Lee has been a breath of fresh air for fans in the nation's capital, and not just for his try-scoring ability.

The exciting 20-year-old crossed for two tries against the Warriors on Saturday night, including the spectacular winner with just four minutes remaining.

The Easts Mt Gravatt junior with the Will Smith-inspired hair do from the 1980s sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, sprinted in to catch a Terry Campese bomb before producing another trademark dance move post-try celebration.

"With a few more games under my belt, you might see some moves," Lee, who was captured doing the worm after a victory last year, said.

"I like doing the robot move and pop rocking. My haircut is very old school - I like songs and movies from the 1980s."

Lee credits some of his pace and skill to his basketball days - he was part of the Brisbane Bullets' development program in 2006 and 2007.

The 10-game NRL rookie is a cousin of Patty Mills who plays for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.

"Playing basketball has helped with my agility, and my hand-eye coordination when catching kicks," he said.

Mills is a role model for indigenous kids, something Lee said he hoped to replicate.

"One thing I'm pretty big on is helping out indigenous people, either here in Canberra, or in Brisbane," he said.

Lee has already represented Queensland at U20 level and was part of this year's Emerging Maroons squad, experiences he described as "real confidence-builders for me".

And he will have more of a chance to build a case for permanent inclusion somewhere in the Raiders' backline over the next two rounds, with Blake Ferguson (cheek) on the sidelines.

"It's unfortunate for Blake, but an opportunity for me to put my best foot forward," Lee said.